Switched reluctance motor without torque ripple or electrolytic capacitors

Switched reluctance machines (SRMs) sidestep many of the issues with permanent magnet and induction machines and embody the lowest cost and simplest manufacturing of the motor technologies. Major drawbacks to SRMs have been (1) the need for failure-prone electrolytic capacitors, (2) large torque ripple, and (3) acoustic noise. Conventionally, these drawbacks have been addressed independently either through (1) excitation control or (2) machine design, but not as a holistic system or solution. This paper presents a design for high-efficiency low-cost SRM while producing smooth output torque and avoiding pulsating inverter input current and the associated electrolytic capacitor. We propose a comprehensive approach which combines both phase excitation control and machine design to cooperatively address the excursions of input and output powers from their average values.